Fonseca 2015 Guimaraens Bicentenary Vintage Port
Item Number: 39 80 159 15
Fonseca 2015 Guimaraens Bicentenary Vintage Port
A Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2017 with a score of 93.
About Fonseca 2015 Guimaraens Bicentenary Vintage Port
The prehistory of the firm of Fonseca lies in the late 1700s, in a company known as Fonseca & Monteiro, located in Oporto. The Fonseca family, of Brazilian origin, conducted trade in various products primarily with Brazil, but by the 1820s, Fonseca & Monteiro dealt solely in Port wines. The present firm was not formally founded until 1815, when Manuel Pedro Guimaraens, who had been trading for the company, acquired control through purchase of the majority of the Fonseca holdings. As a condition of the sale, it was stipulated that the Fonseca name be retained, and today the official company name remains Fonseca Guimaraens. Fonseca may be unique in the annals of Port in that every Fonseca Vintage Port, except the 1955, was made by one of three members of the Guimaraens family—a remarkable continuity of winemaker that is clearly evident in the wine. Guimaraens Vintage Ports are made in years when a classic Fonseca Vintage is not declared and are generally more supple and approachable when young.
This 2015 Guimaraens is the winery’s bicentenary release and it is crafted from grapes sourced from three of Fonseca’s most prized estates; Quinta do Panascal, Cruzeiro and Santo Antonio. It made the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 for 2017 with a score of 93. They said “This is warm and lush in feel, and really well-built, with layers of blueberry, açaí berry and plum reduction flavors rolling through, laced with hints of ganache and fruitcake. Lots of graphite-edged grip lines the finish. Best from 2027 through 2040.”
And the Wine Advocate scored it 93-95 saying “The 2015 Guimaraens Vintage Port is a field blend coming in at 101 grams per liter of residual sugar. This was a tank sample when seen, out of barrel, the final blend and awaiting bottling in a couple of weeks. It should be released by the time this article appears. This is the blend Fonseca releases when there is no "classic" vintage declaration. It is usually intended to be approachable a bit earlier, much like a second wine. It seems pretty impressive this year, though. Round, big and lush, it might well be the best of the 2015s from the Fladgate Partnership, especially on the hedonism scale. It also seems to be the most concentrated of the Fladgate Partnership's wines this issue, full bodied and mouth coating. With air, this shows plenty of tannins underneath, too, but the mid-palate depth balances everything perfectly. Underneath that first rush of everything is intensely flavorful and fresh 2015 fruit. That's what this vintage tends to deliver. As relatively fat as this is in its youth, it also seems relatively dry this year. This has a long life ahead and the potential for significant development. It may be approachable on the younger side, but I'd personally like to put it away for at least 15 years (from vintage date). It quite possibly needs considerably more cellar time, particularly depending on how much complexity you demand. (I personally tend to lean to longer in my own tastes, but each to his own.) It should age very well, too.”
Wine Details
- Bottle Size 750 ml
- Wine Type Dessert/Sake
- Country Portugal
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